Major Mexican historical events happened in this beautifully preserved, picturesque city - Archduke Maximilian fought his last battle here on the Hill of the Bells (Cerro de las Campanas),& was executed here in 1867, and Mexico's current Constitution was drafted and signed here in 1917.

Today Queretaro is a majestic city with graceful balconies, ornate facades, excellent museums and theaters, quaint plazas with statues of Independence heroes, large decorative fountains, and the city's chief landmark & symbol - its 74-arch aqueduct which was built in 1738. The city is pedestrian-focused with walking the preferred way to discover the historic downtown, or take a trolley tour.

[An old-fashioned trolley offers tours of the downtown area, with a bilingual guide to explain the 21 historic buildings and monuments passed along the way. The trolley sets out from the state tourism office daily at 9, 10 and 11 a.m., and 4, 5 and 6 p.m., except Mondays. Passengers can also board at the Mirador al Acueducto and Cerro de las Campanas. For the trolley routes, check: http://www.queretaro-mexico.com.mx/turismo/tranviae.html]

Tourist materials state that at night, Queretaro lights up with a carefully orchestrated system of flood lighting, giving the whole place a wonderful look, feel and atmosphere, so one should consider staying at least one night.

The city's famous baroque architecture is so outstanding that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1996. Check this UNESCO page for the official designation: http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=792 In short it states that Queretaro is "an exceptional example of a colonial town whose layout symbolizes its multi-ethnic population. It is also endowed with a wealth of outstanding buildings, notably from the 17th and 18th centuries."

[If you check the Mexico list on the following UNESCO page, you will notice that Mexico has 24 UNESCO sites which is amazing & quite an honor: http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31 On the list are the five Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro which I would definitely like to visit someday soon: http://whc.unesco.org/pg.cfm?cid=31&id_site=1079]

Queretaro is also famous for its stonework - beautiful sculptures, fountains and architectural features, and semi-precious stones including amethysts, topaz and opals which are mined in the area.

Querétaro not only offers a meticulously maintained centro histórico of churches, convents, museums and state palaces, it also offers a ring-road lined with the modern convenience of Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and Costco, where Mexicans and gringos alike stock up on bargain supplies.

All of my journals from this trip can be found at: http://www.worldisround.com/browse/NorthAmerica/Mexico/Guanajuato/